Lyle Foster is capable of doing more for Bafana Bafana, says head coach Hugo Broos.
Broos was speaking after Bafana Bafana played to a 1-1 draw against Panama at Moses Mabhida Stadium on Friday. Oswin Appollis was on the scoresheet for the hosts.
Foster, who featured for 72 minutes against the North Americans, was making his 29th appearance for South Africa’s senior national side, with a return of 10 goals.
Broos admitted that he had a heart-to-heart with the Burnley striker to push him to do more.
“You know, for me, Lyle is a very good striker, but sometimes he’s a little bit lazy in the game,” said the straight-talking Broos.
“I told him a few days ago that we need someone that moves more, that puts the defenders more under pressure. Lyle moves a lot. He’s quick, he’s strong.
“He can be more dangerous than when he’s waiting for the ball. I know he’s strong also when you’re giving the ball in the feet. He doesn’t lose so many balls, but this is not our game,” Broos explained.
“We don’t play with someone in attack who keeps the ball and then players who are playing around. No, we play football that needs movement and also for the striker. So again, Lyle was tired after an hour or after 70 minutes, but okay.
“I like more when he’s tired after 70 minutes. Then I’m angry or frustrated that he doesn’t move enough.”
In the current squad, Broos’ other outright striker is Evidence Makgopa, who has six goals in 25 matches in national team colours.
Bafana Bafana will host Panama on Tuesday in the second friendly scheduled for the DHL Stadium in Cape Town.
Broos added, “No, there will be not a lot of changes. Not at all. And I know that the Sundowns players have an overloaded programme also in the next weeks. But okay, this is not my problem.
“I have to prepare for the World Cup and I think if we have a World Cup – a disappointing World Cup, people will not say, ‘Oh, Coach, it’s nothing. You saved the players of Sundowns’.
“No, no, no, no. I think Sundowns has enough players. They have 35 players in there, and so they can change. Certainly here in PSL, if (Teboho) Mokoena plays or (Aubrey) Modiba plays or (Khuliso) Mudau plays, or if they don’t play, they always win the game in PSL. So I don’t see the problem for them.”
